Broadcasting
NCC Partners SMEDAN to Deepen IP Knowledge Among SMEs

Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have agreed to collaborate in order to strengthen Intellectual Property (IP) knowledge among the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate the growth of the creative economy in Nigeria.
The Commission and SMEDAN consented to the partnership during the courtesy visit of the Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, to the SMEDAN headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, the DG, NCC, stated that the place of copyright and IP in Nigeria’s creative industry which makes up the creative economy, as next to oil resources cannot be underscored.
The creative industry which is in the hands of small and medium enterprises is the engine that drives the economy today and needs to be leveraged on using the instruments of IP, he noted.
Dr. Asein, speaking on the details of the partnership proposed the deployment of IP knowledge in form of training to staff of SMEDAN in order to bridge the knowledge gap in IP among the workforce and add value to their work; Key into the We Win programme of the NNCC, an initiative targeted at strengthening more women in IP to empower other women in line with the WIPO theme for the 2023 World IP Day and training more women in innovation and creativity to ensure sustainability and application of IP knowledge.
He added that the NCC is working closely with World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) with discussions to engage with sub-sectors of the creative industry. ‘We are looking at the fashion and craft industries and how we can infuse IP knowledge and basic tools to help these industries better their products’ he disclosed.
“The choice of the partnership with SMEDAN is a good development as it will help to cascade the knowledge gained to the SMEs”, Dr. Asein added.
Responding, the Director-General, SMEDAN, Asiwaju Olawale Fasanya, said the partnership is a welcome development as it will assist SMEs to grow their businesses. He noted that most of the SMEs are not averse to IP knowledge but lacks the right information to brand their businesses, control their innovations and protect their creativity.
He assured the DG, NCC of keying into the proposed IP training programme to get their staff equipped and promised to take it further in form of train the trainer programme in order to dispense the IP knowledge to SMEDAN State Managers who will assist the SMEs in the areas of IP to grow their business.
Commenting further on the partnership, Mr. Fasanya said it is a great opportunity as it will help SMEDAN to integrate IP Module into the training programme for SMEs. While looking forward to more engagements, he stated that the collaboration will be worked out with a specific action plan with the setting up of a team to work out the processes.
He equally made the call for a joint forum with representatives of business organisations who will participate to transmit IP information to their members so as to add value to the SMEs.
Broadcasting
CCPT Dismisses Class Action Suit against MultiChoice over Tariff Hikes

Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), citing lack of jurisdiction.
The suit challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative, and unfair.
Diala and others sought to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model, such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.
They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.
MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.
In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised, which were pricing and tariff regulation, fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the President, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.
“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okosun stated.
While the tribunal acknowledged it holds both original and appellate jurisdiction under the FCCPC Act, it emphasized that such authority does not cover general price control unless abuse of market dominance is established—a point the claimants failed to prove.
On the procedural matter of filing a class action without prior approval, the tribunal noted that although it is ideal to obtain leave, failure to do so was not fatal in this instance since the claimants demonstrated a shared grievance and common interest.
Nonetheless, the tribunal upheld MultiChoice’s objection, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
“The preliminary objection of the first defendant succeeds,” the panel held. “This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”
This ruling follows a similar outcome on May 8, when a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld MultiChoice’s price increases after the company sued the FCCPC.
In that judgment, Justice James Omotoso declared that the FCCPC lacked the authority to fix or suspend subscription rates.
Broadcasting
MultiChoice Nigeria Slashes Decoder Price by 50 Percent, Offers Free Upgrades

MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop, in a aim at attracting attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.
The campaign, titled “We’ve Got You,” was launched on June 16 and will continue until July 31.
Also, as part of its efforts to ease economic pressure on households and improve access to digital TV services, the campaign offers a free upgrade for both active and returning customers.
Speaking on the campaign, John Ugbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MultiChoice Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and enhancing daily viewing experiences.
“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day,” Ugbe said.
“The ‘We’veGot You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.
“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.
“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day.”
The development comes amid MultiChoice Nigeria’s legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over price hike.
Broadcasting
Qatar Airways Top Brass Face Court Action in Nigeria Over FCCPC Charges

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on Oct. 7, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers, over allegations bordering on breach of FCCPC Act, 2018.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are Stella Ihediwa, the Account Manager of the airline; Kennedy Chirchir, the Country Manager and Eva Ojeje, who is the Sales Manager of the company.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, the matter could not proceed.
Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.
FCCPC.’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of their inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.
Nsitem then sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/200/2025, dragged Qatar Airways, Birdzell, Ihediwa, Chirchir and Ojeje to court as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
FCCPC, in the application dated May 26 but filed May 27, had preferred a two-count charge against the defendants.
The defendants were alleged to have failed to appear before FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons of the commission dated Sept. 6, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) Act, 2018.
They were also accused to have on Sept. 18, 2024, intentionally withheld the production of documents in compliance wth a lawful summons of the commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of FCCP Act, 2018.
In count three, they were alleged to have on Sept. 18, 2024, engaged in the contravention of the consumer rights, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 124(1) and punishable under Section 155 of the same Act.
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